The Onyx Seed - A Story of Survival by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 26

Between the terror of the attack and her emotional outburst, Julie quickly became exhausted, falling into a deep sleep. Marty had tried to point out that things were not as bad as they seemed. But secretly, he found himself unable to believe a word of it. Yes, in the world’s previous state, the presence of people made life somewhat hazardous. After all, the most dangerous animal often appears in human form. Nevertheless, one had the benefit of picking up a phone and calling for help. Now, the fact that there was no help to be had seemed equally balanced by the almost complete absence of people. Being on one’s own and possessing the freedom to act on a whim comes at a high price. Marty also wanted a few days to simply rest. He saw his goal of getting to the Adirondacks becoming more realistic. On the other hand, he was getting tired of running. He wondered when they would have the opportunity to be left alone. To live their lives unencumbered by what had become of the world. And even though the world had undergone an unfathomable transformation as the result of the infection, at least the reality of the world as a constant source of threats had not changed. He looked over at Julie, who still sat sleeping with her head turned into the passenger window. Marty began to suspect that she may not be as strong as he once believed and this latest incident may have started to push her toward the limits of her sanity. But, there was still the more immediate issue of where they would go next. Marty didn’t want to spend another night behind the wheel, driving across the state. He had spent a great deal of time studying the road maps and the areas that lined interstate 95. So, he had found a place nearby where they could stop for a day or two and if all went well, perhaps a few days.

So, while Julie continued in her exhausted slumber, Marty drove the relatively short distance to Hartsville and into Sandhill State Forest. It was smaller than Santee State Park, but within it lay Wilkes Millpond. He stopped outside its entrance and gently woke Julie. He was concerned that if she woke up in the middle of the woods, her mind would flashback to the attack leveled against them as they escaped Santee. “Julie?” he said.

She slept as deeply as he expected, and given the circumstances, he gently gripped her shoulder, calling to her again. She woke with a start, her eyes darting around as though she expected to, once again, be surrounded by the hungry pack.

“Where are we?” she asked.

Her tired mind began to shed itself of the previous night’s ghosts.

“I found another place to stay,” Marty answered. Julie rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and gazed around at the woods they were about to enter. “Another campground?” she asked with an anxious tone.

“I know,” Marty answered.

He tried to maintain a calm voice, knowing that in Julie’s mind, any wooded place was likely filled with wandering eyes and the fevered snarls of creatures bent on consuming them, dead or alive. “It’s the best I could do, okay? So, let’s just get some sleep. Tomorrow, if you want to go somewhere else, we will, okay?”

Julie nodded as the last of the previous night’s demons flew from her weary mind. “Okay,” she answered guardedly. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Marty’s decisions. She understood why he chose the isolation of the woods. Knowing that they were far better off than to venture into the city. At least animals were driven by instinct. While people were, for the most part, driven by intent and a need for control. Julie sat up as Marty put the RV into gear. She swallowed hard and fixed her eyes on the road ahead as they entered the state forest. She wanted to be strong, knowing they had no other choice but to retreat into the woods once more. Marty turned the high beams on, wanting to see as much as possible. Both in front and on each side. Now, he had a better chance of seeing any signs of human activity and saw there were no campers or tents within the immediate area.

Continuing through the woods only brought more of the same. Nothing but trees, dirt, and darkness. Marty pulled his eyes from the dirt road just long enough to absorb the tense look of fear on Julie’s face. However, her fearful anticipation was suddenly broken by the appearance of a doe and her fawn bolting across the road in front of them. Marty quickly stepped on the brake as Julie’s eyes lit up in childlike wonder. She gasped in surprise and remarked, “That is so cool!”

Marty grinned in amusement as Julie’s eyes followed them into the woods. This changed her mood considerably, and she seemed to no longer see the woods as a place of impending death. This event provided her with evidence that even the darkness can harbor things of beauty. As they made their way deeper into the woods, Marty glimpsed the moon’s reflection as it struck the surface of a small pond. He asked Julie if she wanted to be near the water again. She unconsciously had begun to associate that particular setting with the ferocity and shrill screams of coyotes as well as any other monsters that forced their way into her psyche. But the romantic in her suddenly rose to the surface, and she decided in favor of again, camping near the water. Marty found what he believed to be the perfect camping spot. It was fairly deep into the woods and only yards from the edge of Wilkes Millpond. This time, he made it a point to back into the campsite as a precaution. In the event they ran into trouble, they could simply drive out, instead of wasting time manipulating out into the road. Marty turned off the engine, and they both sat listening to the silent sound of the night air. Looking out over the pond, Marty saw the moon had swung itself across the sky and sat hovering high in the night like a burning orb of white glass.

“We should get some sleep,” Marty said. Marty’s words nearly escaped her, who sat leaning forward, staring up at the full moon, her mind wandering into the uncharted territory of her imagination.

“Julie,” he said.

Her head whipped around as the sound of her name penetrated her conscious mind.

“What?” she replied.

Marty was greatly comforted by the fact that she seemed so enamored by the pleasant side of the wilderness, hoping that she would continue in her appreciation of the outdoors.

“We need to get some sleep.”

As she got up from her seat and retreated to the bedroom, Marty again, made sure that both doors were locked. He then followed her back, retrieving another blanket and prepared to turn in. Removing their clothes, Marty and Julie slid beneath the covers. She quickly moved over next to him for warmth as well as a degree of emotional security. Marty held her naked body as exhaustion finally claimed them. Both drifted away from the circumstances of their trying lives. Away from the pyres and the haunting faces of those fortunate enough not to have been left behind to the maddening fear of living on the edge of survival. They would never have to run for their lives. That was the panicked reaction of the living. And it was quickly becoming a way of life as Marty and Julie continued their way to the Adirondacks, where they would, hopefully, find safety in the relative isolation of Marty’s hometown. The next day was much like the day before. The woods were quiet and the trees waved gently in the cool morning breeze. Marty opened his eyes and found Julie tightly pressed against him, indicating how cold the night had been. Climbing out of bed, he folded the blankets over Julie’s body and walked out into the living area. He peered out through the RV’s small windows, looking for anything that might constitute a threat. Again, as during the previous morning, he saw nothing. And while the daylight held no surprises, it was the night that concerned him. So, as Julie slept, Marty went to the shower and using some of their stock of bottled water, sponged himself down. He decided that a search of the immediate area was necessary but didn’t want Julie waking up, only to find herself alone.

He dressed in clean clothes and began the morning’s breakfast routine. As usual, coffee was first, followed by pancakes and what remained of the syrup. While the coffee brewed, Marty mixed the pancake batter, glancing out the window occasionally. He knew there was nothing except trees, rocks, and dirt. But after the last twenty-four hours, his paranoia was well-deserved. As the smell of coffee filled the RV, Julie’s senses began to come back to life. Stepping out of bed, she wrapped her chilled, naked body with the blankets that covered them during the night. She stumbled out into the living area and sat on the couch. Her long hair hanging down the front of her shoulders.

“I guess I went a little nuts last night, huh?” Having remembered the previous night in every detail, Julie felt embarrassed that she was unable to cope with the events that had unfolded. “You know,” Marty began. “It’s okay to be afraid. We’re all afraid of something. I mean, fuck, I don’t want to get eaten either.”

Seeing that Marty clearly understood her anxiety, Julie quickly felt absolved of her embarrassment. She stood up, approached him with a playful grin and grabbed him by his shirt. And pulling him in close, kissed him on the lips.

“Let’s getting something straight,” she began teasingly. “If anybody’s going to eat you, it’s going to be me.”

Marty turned from the stove and wrapping his arms around her waist kissed her gently on the mouth as their tongues briefly intertwined.

“Mmm, really?” Marty asked. “That doesn’t sound like a bad way to go.”

Julie giggled and tightened the blankets around her body.

“I’m going to go wash up,” she said. “So, uh, keep everything hot for me, okay?”

Marty immediately understood the double meaning behind her words. And after their first night together, his imagination ran wild with anticipation of the coming night. After breakfast had been prepared, Marty covered the pancakes to keep them warm. He walked over to the shower and stood admiring Julie’s slender body as she continued sponging herself. With a slight smile, he watched her wring out a washcloth, letting the tepid, soapy water run down over her breasts, stomach, and thighs. Sensing his gaze, Julie’s eyes met his, and she teasingly covered nipples and blew him a kiss. After the previous night’s attack, Julie had apparently recovered enough that she could again reveal her playful nature. Breakfast was a welcomed sight and Julie ate as if that day was her last. Having consumed every morsel, she sat back against her seat with her hands on her stomach. “Holy shit!” she said. “Don’t ever let me do that again.”

Marty smiled broadly.

“Hey, I would never stand between a woman and food,” he joked. “Besides, you should enjoy it while we have it.”

Julie let out a loud belch and covered her mouth as her eyes suddenly widened with embarrassment. “Excuse me,” she said.

This prompted a giggle from Marty that quickly escalated into almost uncontrolled laughter. Those few minutes seemed to release the tension that had built up over the last several days. Their laughter left them both near breathless. But as the moment passed, their attention again focused on the day’s priorities. “So, what’s the plan today?” Julie asked. “Well,” Marty began. “I should probably take a good around. I’m going to cover a larger area and look for tracks, maybe see if there’s any scat around.”

“Wait a minute,” Julie interrupted. “What the hell is scat?”

“Um, well, it’s another word for shit,” Marty answered, matter-of-factly.

“Oh,” Julie began. “So, you’re going to go out looking for shit?”

Marty hesitated, trying not to laugh. “Actually, it’s a pretty good sign of which animals live in the area.”

Julie’s mouth dropped open in both disbelieve and disgust.

“Alright, so, if a deer takes a shit in the woods, you can tell that it’s deer shit, right?”

“Yeah,” Marty replied. “But we’ll know what kinds of animals are out there and I’d rather not get any surprises.”

She thought the idea of getting up close and personal with animal feces was utterly disgusting, but Julie did understand the necessity of determining if there were any looming threats in the woods. Marty stood up and gathering the plates, utensils and cookware began the task of cleaning up. And with Julie’s help, it went that much faster.

“So,” Julie began. “Is there anything else we’re looking for out there?”

Marty turned toward her with a somewhat surprised expression.

“We?” he asked.

“Oh...no,” she replied. “You are not leaving me here alone.”

“Julie,” Marty replied. “I can do this faster if I’m by myself.”

“Bullshit!” Julie replied sternly. “After last night, I am not staying here! I’m going with you!” By now, Marty knew how determined Julie was and when she made up her mind, there was nothing he could do to change it. So, as the breakfast dishes sat drying, they stepped out of the RV and began their search. Julie followed behind as Marty examined the ground for any indication of wildlife in the area. After covering roughly one square mile, they’d found only a few deer tracks. While Julie was greatly relieved, Marty had his reservations not about what he was seeing but what he wasn’t seeing. His Army training taught him that not everything is what it seems to be. If there were deer in the area, there had to be predators to keep their numbers in check. That being the case, they no doubt, retained their taste for wild meat. So, it was very likely that this time, they would be left alone. Arriving back at the RV, Julie asked Marty his opinion of the area they were staying in. “I think we’re going to be okay this time,” he answered.

Julie was greatly relieved and felt considerably better about being in what she thought of as the middle of nowhere. Julie began gathering firewood as Marty constructed a fire ring from rocks he found near the pond. Soon, the fire was built and there was enough wood for that night, plus the next day. After lunch, Marty decided it was necessary to make a broader inspection of the area surrounding the campground. He didn’t want to take the time to hike through the entire state forest. He just wanted the security of knowing as much as possible about where they were. Of course, Julie insisted on accompanying him. As much as she was afraid to be alone, she was even more afraid to die alone. Three hours later, they had found no trace of any other campsites. Julie was not only relieved but actually seemed to be more relaxed about being in the woods. In spite of recent events. Marty wanted very much to believe they were alone, but his battle-born sense of paranoia would always hold a degree of caution.

They walked back to camp. And as Julie slipped her hand in his, they quickly became caught up in a moment that seemed to come straight from a romance novel. They could collect all the firewood and bottled water in the world, yet their lives came down to only two things, each other and the moment that occasionally proved to be elusive as times of serenity seemed to be far outweighed by the madness brought on by a new reality, where the fortunate were the dead and the few who remained were left fearful as they out an existence like animals. Surely, it was not the strong who survived but the intelligent and resourceful. It was those who remained cloaked from the murderous insanity of other survivors who would rise to the top. Not building a new civilization, but building a safe haven for themselves. Because not everyone can be helped and death is an eventuality that will sometimes wait on those who have retained both their humanity and their faculties. It was late in the afternoon by the time Marty and Julie returned to the RV. As they approached, Marty’s eyes examined the area for anything that may have changed in their absence. Some tracks, a dislodged rock from the fire ring. Anything that seemed out of place. It took only seconds for him to realize that nothing about the RV or the campsite had changed.

Entering the RV, Julie sat on the couch and removed her shoes. She stretched her legs out and her arms up over her head. After three hours of walking, she ached all over. But now, the night was quietly approaching and there were still things that needed to be done. Dinner was brief and Julie was glad to watch as Marty prepared the evenings meal. He set out several bottles of water. After their long walk, it was important for both of them to rehydrate. He left Julie to rest as he went outside to start to the fire. Camping near a pond meant they were at the mercy of the mosquitoes. Thus, Marty wanted to get a fire going sooner rather than later. Once that was accomplished, Julie stepped out of the RV holding a half-filled bottle of water. She walked toward the fire and sat on a log that seemed to have been put they for that purpose. And as Marty built up the fire, Julie took a few moments to look around at the surrounding woods. The orange-yellow light of the blazing fire fell in all directions, illuminating the trees with an unearthly glow. Beyond that, the blackening sky slowly broke into a silvery glitter of stars. Eventually, flooding the celestial sea from horizon to horizon. As they settled down in front of the fire, Julie moved to the ground between Marty’s knees. Marty slid down to the ground behind her and wrapped his arms around her chest. With a clear sky and the full moon rising from the horizon, the night seemed like the perfect backdrop for something both had been anticipating all day. Julie pulled one of Marty’s arms down and held its muscular warmth against the side of her face. Soon, the bite of a slight chill drifted in on the night air. But Marty was at the ready and piled more wood onto the fire. They sat in front of its warm glow together for what felt like an eternity as Julie began gently moving her lips through the hair on his arm. Marty reacting by reaching down and kissing the side of her neck, just beneath her ear. Bringing her head back, she reached an arm up around Marty’s neck as their lips met in a kiss of anticipated passion. Moments later, Marty slowly slipped his hands up beneath Julie’s tank top, raising it above her breasts. The sensation of his touch raised every hair on her body and kissing him passionately, invitingly dipped her tongue into his mouth. Marty quickly drove her to the edge of aroused insanity as his fingertips tenderly circled her already swollen nipples. Turning around to him, Julie slipped off her tank top then hurriedly helped Marty off with his shirt. Marty eased her down on her back and laying his body atop her, braced himself against the warm ground while gently massaging her breasts.

“Let’s go inside,” she whispered. Marty took her hands and interlocking their fingers together, pulled her arms over her head, gently bracing her against the ground.

“How about right here?” he asked playfully.

The idea of having sex outdoors excited her. And Julie found herself torn between bearing her body to the living soul of the woods and the hesitant self-consciousness of thinking there may be someone else watching from the among the pines, lit with the soft flickering light of the fire. She shifted slightly under his weight, giving him a coy look. “Mmm, maybe later,” she said.

Releasing her hands, Marty got to his knees as Julie grabbed his forearm and pulled herself up. They stood briefly in front of the fire wrapped in each other’s arms as their tongues eagerly met in a long, passionate kiss. Joining hands, they disappeared into the RV. Over time, the fire would die, leaving a cold bed of charred wood and ashes.

The woods suddenly took on a different tone as Marty and Julie retreated to the bedroom. Like a teenaged couple alone in a parent’s house, they raced playfully to the bed, their clothes scattered behind them. Marty followed her down to the bed. And as their lips met, Julie’s hands found their way up his chest and around his neck. Soon after, Marty’s lips wandered down her neck, over her collarbone and down to her breasts.

Julie quickly became aroused as Marty took one of her engorged nipples between his lips. Only now did he realize how physically sensitive Julie really was and the sight of her nearly uncontrolled excitement led him to the sudden awareness of his own flushed state. Julie looked down with an expression of deep pleasure as Marty continued his stimulation of her supple, warm breasts. She whispered almost indiscriminately to him, bringing Marty to a kneeling position, back between her feet. Sitting up, she turned over and positioned herself on her knees and elbows. Her body arched down toward the bed. Marty moved in on his knees, sliding his hands over the bottom of her hips. He replaced his hands to her shoulders and squeezed as she let out a slight groan. Releasing the tension that had accumulated over the last few days. Releasing her shoulders, he let his fingertips slip down the length of her back to the tip of her spine. Her skin was smooth and warm with a near-flawless appearance. The sensation ignited Julie’s passionate need for the completion of intense release. At Julie’s urgency, he slid himself into her sweating body. She breathed in a gasp of arousal as her hands tightly clutched the sheets. Firmly gripping her waist, Marty repeatedly plunged himself deeply into her with enough force to curl her toes. As tensions mounted, Julie reached down and deftly touched Marty with her fingertips. His response was immediate, and he exploded into Julie with a heightened sexual awareness that left him nearly disoriented. Julie’s release followed within moments. Pleasure quickly turned to pain as Marty continued to bury himself, again and again, in Julie’s tiring body. “Oh, fuck!” she screamed.

Soon, the moment was gone and both Marty and Julie lay on the bed next to each other. The room had filled with humidity and the lingering scent of sweat and passion. They were both weak from exertion. Their energy spent on the fusing together of bodies and souls.

“Goddamn,” Julie said with obvious exhaustion. “Are we going to be doing this a lot?”

Marty looked over at her with a grin then up at the ceiling.

“I hope so,” he answered.

Julie rolled over on top of him and kissed him on the lips.

“That’s the right answer,” she said. She slipped over onto the bed and brought the side of her head to rest on Marty’s shoulder. Just before drifting off to sleep, Julie focused her attention on the night air that lingered outside the RV’s thin insulated walls. Its silence screamed in her ears, leaving her uncertain as to what she should be afraid of. What she could hear, or what may lay quietly in the darkness, waiting to reveal itself in all its unrestrained madness. Once she was convinced that the soundless woods lacked the malevolence of the previous night, Julie slowly dropped off into a deep sleep unaware that Marty had been listening too. The next morning brought the same daily routine as did the day before. Coffee, breakfast, firewood. Marty made a thorough inspection of the immediate area and found only a few scattered deer droppings. As relieved as he was, he found it odd that there were no signs of predators. They weren’t that far from Santee State Park, and he was certain the coyotes of the previous night occupied a territory large enough to include the area they were camped in. Nevertheless, Marty believed that as long as there were deer nearby, they would be safe. He would worry only if they suddenly disappeared or if he found a carcass. So, in spite of having found nothing that suggested the presence of a threat, Marty would continue with a cautious approach. He understood that the element of surprise rests entirely on one’s abandonment of caution and the last thing he wanted was another surprise. The next several hours passed uneventfully as Marty and Julie finally got to a place where they could relax, but their optimism was not without the understanding that change sometimes happens quickly and when it is least expected.

Julie was able to achieve her comfort level, allowing her to take Marty’s dare and make love to him under the watchful eyes of the star-strewn night. She found the experience exhilarating as the cool night air drifted over their bodies and felt as though she had been released from a virtual prison of restrained inhibition. She would, on more than one occasion, accompany Marty to the RV naked with dirt under her fingernails. And after several nights in Sandhills State Forest, it was agreed that the time had arrived to move on.

Marty retrieved some water from the pond and poured it over the smoldering bed of blackened coals that had recently been a crackling fire and a source of heat and comfort. They took stock of their supplies, including the amount of gas remaining in the RV’s tank. At some point, it would be necessary to, again, find one or two places to stop for supplies. They only needed a few items, but Marty felt it would be better to get them sooner rather than later and making their way back to I-95 north, he found the perfect opportunity to acquire some supplies near the outskirts of Darlington and according to the road map, it was a small town just off I-95 but not so small that they couldn’t find what they needed. And after their brief visit to the otherwise empty town, they turned north back onto the highway, confident that their destination would soon be within reach.